Hey everyone!
I’m BACCCCCK. For those of you who are receiving this email for the first time, WELCOME. And guess what? I’ve never actually seen a Star Wars movie. So I have no idea what a Jedi is. Please, reply here or take to Twitter to riot about this. But seriously, I’m actually going to write this year. Like how I just skated right along after the Star Wars nonsense?
If I’m being honest, I really did write a good deal—just not here. As most of my writing has been for the Stark Difference newsletter.
To be clear though, the reason I didn’t write as much here was because I needed to do a different type of work in order to have something to deliver to you. I feel this way about speaking events, too. I have a thing against mediocrity, and I never want to share anything less than signal. So if I feel like it’ll be noise, I back away. Ramping up Stark and having that run at full speed along with so many life changing moments meant majority of my time was away from here, but gaining a ton of experience and insights that I can share with you.
This is a place for me to write about and digest my experiences, learnings, theories, opinions, etc. in both my personal and professional life. And also share things I find around the web worth digesting. Having said that…
Ask me anything
Reply to this or email me at hello@heyimcat.com with your questions. I’ll try to pick as many topics and write about it, and I’ll keep your name anonymous by default.
Starting next week, you’ll see posts rolling out on about once per month to start. I’ll open each up with an update and quickly get to the post. Sometimes they’ll be short, and others will be longer. If it’s a not-so-wild month, I’ll have more. But I want to set realistic goals as I still am a Mom, Partner, CEO, and human being that likes to read every day, exercise, and have a chance to think.
Let’s get rolling with some goodies though. I appreciate you for reading this. And until next time…
– Cat.
What I’m writing about
Upcoming posts on deck
Deleting my Facebook account & the psychological design of doing so
Bringing majority of my business communications to iMessage
Lessons on craft / avoiding mediocrity
Finding silence in the age of noise
There’s no such thing as an accessibility-paradox
Applying the laws of medicine to design
Some topics I’ll be covering
Accessibility (Shocker? lol), inclusivity, and compliance
Design, Data and AI
Aging in today’s society and the role technology / design play
What it was like designing for health
The business case for your role
Leadership & managing product
…and anything else you request :)
Thoughts I’m brewing
It’s interesting when you see news circulating or sit in conversations with people about the discussion points thrown out around the ins-and-outs of company building. If nothing else, this last year but especially the last three months have shown me how hard it can be. At the end of the day though, it all boils down to the people you’re working with. Tasks are managed, humans are led.
The fish rots from the head down.
Books
I figured I’d take this newsletter edition to get out of the way all of the books I read in 2019 and kick off sharing what books I’m reading. Each time I write, I’ll share the next.
Planet of Viruses
Small Great Things
It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work
A Higher Loyalty
Hello World
Reboot
Leonardo da Vinci
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (6th time)
Vignelli Canon
An American Marriage
Make Your Bed
Unfuck Your Anger
All That You Leave Behind
Now I’m currently reading…
Being Mortal (finished)
Capital is Dead
Ruined by Design
Things they didn’t talk about when I was a girl
The Mind Gut Connection
Culture Code
Around the web
Instagram Stories filter for “What Adobe CC app are you?” has labeled me as Adobe Bridge, and I truly don’t know how to feel about that. Check out the video…